In our office we have a large map entitled ‘Devon’s Green Churches’ which contains a series of dots and stars covering the county from Ilfracombe to Ivybridge. Each symbol represents a church with a composting toilet or solar panels, or has completed an energy survey, or is registered as fair-trade or an ‘eco-congregation’, or runs a wood-burning heating system, and so on. They are examples of church eco projects. In total there are more than 200 coloured symbols and we add more each few weeks. None of them is totally perfect and the initiatives they demonstrate will have their flaws. Not...

Devon County Council leader, John Hart, has today offered praise for the “swift” response to the unprecedented rail problems affecting the South West.

The disruptions are mainly the result of the recent severe weather destroying around 80m of coastal track near Dawlish limiting the region’s transport links.

Extra pressure came over the weekend when a landslip on track near Yeovil cut off Devon’s rail link to the rest of the country.

Although initial expectations thought the repair work would take a week the line was re-opened just a day later.

However the...

A digital marketing specialist has enjoyed a quick start to business life having set up his own marketing agency four months ago.

The DEFRA Minister George Eustace today (07/02/14) opened a new £1 million workspace hub at Home Farm, Bicton College, which only a year ago received £300,000 of Rural Growth Network capital funding.

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for farming, food and marine environment travelled to the county to offer his support for a range of local business initiatives. The visit draws attention to the work which is underway to support the rural economy and to help businesses highlight their needs and access help and advice.

The Farmhouse Business Centre project at Bicton...

Devon is on course for more bad weather as the Met Office predicts heavy rain and strong wind from tonight until the end of the week.

The forecasters say that several more areas of low pressure, bringing heavy rainfall are expected to hit the county from tonight onwards. The fresh wind and rain bring with them more pressure from flooding in much of the South West particularly in areas already badly affected by the recent exceptional rainfall. The Met Office’s chief forecaster said: “There remains some uncertainty in timing of the frontal system, but 10 to 20 mm rainfall is likely...

We use money every day, whether we pay something with cash or our credit card. But, how much do we really know about it? Here are 10 things you probably didn’t know about money.

1 – Highest inflation in recent history When it comes to inflation, no country comes close to Zimbabwe in recent history. Early in the 21st century, the country had a breathtaking inflation that reached the rate of 98% per day. This led to a price of 300 billion Zimbabwean dollars for one loaf of bread. The government even issued a 100 dollar trillion note (that is a number with 14 zeroes, in case you didn’...

Exeter Chiefs can confirm that Saturday’s Aviva Premiership clash with visiting Bath Rugby is now an official sell-out. The final few tickets for the eagerly-anticipated game, which will kick-off at 3.15pm, were sold early on Monday morning and mean Sandy Park will play host to a crowd of 10,744. Exeter Rugby Club chief executive Tony Rowe OBE said: “We’re delighted to announce another sell-out crowd here at Sandy Park, games between ourselves and Bath are always great occasions and I’ve no doubt this will be no different. “The fact it’s a local derby – and that we still have yet to beat...

Exeter Chiefs lock Romana Graham is to leave the Aviva Premiership club at the end of the season to take up a contract with French club La Rochelle.

The 27-year-old lock, who joined the Chiefs at the start of this season from Super Rugby outfit Waikato Chiefs, has agreed a two-year contract with the Pro D2 side.

To date the Hastings-born forward has featured five times for Rob Baxter's side with all of his appearances having come in Cup competition.

Confirming the arrival of Graham, La Rochelle coach Patrice Collazo said: "Romana is a player that I have followed...